Trio arrested in Church and Style Shop Break Ins

The following press release has been issued by Cherokee County Sheriff's Office.  All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Murphy, NC— Sheriff Derrick Palmer announced the November 3rd, 2016 arrest of 40-year-old David Shawn Freeman, 32-year-old Marlana Regina Maney and 31-year-old Nicholas Johnson Higgins of Murphy, North Carolina in connection with a Break In of a Local Church and a local style shop in Murphy,  North Carolina.

On October 28th, 2016 the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office received reports of a local church in the Murphy Community and a style shop in the vicinity had been broken into. During the church break in, there was significant amount of damage to the facility as well as the theft of a guitar and about 30 pounds of candy which was being held for a community outreach event. During the style shop break in several items were taken including specific cans of hair products which were not purchased locally.

As the investigation progressed the Detective from the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and an Officer with the Murphy Police Department worked together and were able to gather enough evidence to present to the magistrate who issued arrest warrants for the three. Additionally during the investigation some of the articles that had been stolen were located.

Freeman was arrested and taken to the Cherokee County Detention Center where he was charged with BREAK/ENTER PLACE OF WORSHIP, LARCENY AFTER BREAK/ENTER, INJURY TO REAL PROPERTY. Freeman is currently being held in the Cherokee County Detention Center under a $10,000.00 secure bond.

Maney was arrested and taken to the Cherokee County Detention Center where she was charged with BREAK/ENTER PLACE OF WORSHIP, LARCENY AFTER BREAK/ENTER, INJURY TO REAL PROPERTY. Loudermilk is currently being held in the Cherokee County Detention Center under a $10,000.00 secure bond.

Higgins was arrested and taken to the Cherokee County Detention Center where he was charged with BREAK/ENTER PLACE OF WORSHIP, LARCENY AFTER BREAK/ENTER, INJURY TO REAL PROPERTY. Higgins in currently being held in the Cherokee County Detention Center under a $10,000.00 secure bond.

Sheriff Palmer remarked, “This is some excellent team work by Detective Teasdale and Officer Wooten of the Murphy Police Department. They doggedly pursued the leads and worked the investigation through to arrest. Good job!”

Sheriff Palmer encourages any one that has information on this crime or any other to report it. To report crime in Cherokee County you can call the anonymous tip line at 828-837-1344 or email a tip at crime.tips@cherokeecounty-nc.gov or call 911 if you observe a crime in progress. 

​updated 4:19 pm 11/07/16